Interdisciplinary Studies
Design Your Own Path
Build a degree that’s uniquely yours.
A degree in interdisciplinary studies allows you to design a personalized program of study that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, combining fields that are otherwise not offered as a single degree at Davis & Elkins College. If your interests span two or more fields, this program gives you the flexibility to pursue the education that fits your calling.
D&E’s broad offering of majors, minors, and courses spans the arts, sciences, social sciences, business, education, and professional studies. This academic foundation gives interdisciplinary studies students a rich palette of disciplines to draw from to construct a truly distinctive academic program. By establishing a strong, individually designed foundation in two or more disciplines, you can apply your knowledge to complex, real-world problems that rarely fit neatly into one field.
The program facilitates and coordinates student-initiated and faculty-sponsored programs of study that cross disciplinary lines. You’ll work closely with the interdisciplinary studies coordinator to establish and justify both the goals and the curriculum of their proposed program of study. This process develops critical thinking, self-direction, and communication skills that employers value.
Baccalaureate Programs (B.A.)
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
The bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies requires a minimum of 36 credit hours (excluding the capstone experience) and may not exceed 72 credit hours. No more than 48 credits in a single program area may be counted toward fulfillment of the major. The degree must include a capstone experience.
Associates Programs (A.A.)
Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
The associate’s degree in interdisciplinary studies requires a minimum of 36 credit hours and may not exceed 48 credit hours. No more than 24 credits in a single program area may be counted toward fulfillment of the degree. The degree may be fulfilled by the completion of two minors (with enough elective credits to reach the minimum), or by a series of courses designed in coordination with the Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Courses
What We Offer
Because the interdisciplinary studies degree is individualized, there is no fixed list of required courses. Each student’s program of study is designed in collaboration with the interdisciplinary studies coordinator and tailored to the student’s specific goals. Programs must include a reasonable distribution of 100-, 200-, and 300-level courses and must be approved by the Curriculum Committee of Faculty Assembly.
Why Interdisciplinary Studies at D&E
You’ll have the opportunity to design a degree that is genuinely your own — one that reflects your unique combination of interests, strengths, and career goals, rather than a predetermined curriculum that may not fit your vision. Small class sizes at D&E enable engaging faculty members across every discipline to enhance your learning experience, providing the individualized attention and mentorship that a student-designed program requires.
You’ll work closely with the interdisciplinary studies coordinator and faculty from multiple departments, building relationships across D&E’s academic community. The process of designing and proposing your own program of study builds critical thinking skills, intellectual initiative, the ability to synthesize ideas across fields, and clear, persuasive communication. Internship and independent study opportunities provide real-world experience that amplifies classroom learning, and the required capstone experience allows you to demonstrate the depth and coherence of your interdisciplinary education in a meaningful, substantive way.